New documentary about the extraordinary mass nesting behaviour of sea turtles premieres March 24 at 8pm (8:30 NT) on CBC’s The Nature of Things
WINNIPEG, MARCH 6, 2019 - Locals call it the ‘arribada,’ or ‘arrival’ - the magical days and nights when tens of thousands of sea turtles come ashore in Costa Rica, laying millions of eggs. In Turtle Beach, new discoveries abound as Canadian naturalist and host Hugo Kitching follows a team of international scientists on a groundbreaking expedition to uncover the mysteries of this rare phenomenon. Directed by Hayley Smith and Caroline Underwood, and produced by Merit Motion Pictures and Renegade Pictures, the documentary will premiere on CBC’s The Nature of Things on Sunday, March 24th at 8:00pm (8:30pm NT). It will also be available to stream on CBC Gem the Friday prior to broadcast, March 22nd.
The star of the ‘arribada’ is the olive ridley sea turtle, the most abundant and least studied of the world’s seven sea turtle species. To learn more about this elusive creature, the team turns to new technologies which allow them a close-up look at sea turtle behaviour. In a world first, scientist Roldán Valverde uses infrared cameras to delve into the previously hidden world of a turtle nest. This unprecedented access allows us to follow the baby turtles on their incredible journey from embryo to hatchling to the day they finally emerge from the nest nest and take their first perilous steps to the sea.
Turtle Beach reveals the many ways that sea turtles must beat the odds in order to survive. For Hugo, it’s an life-changing experience - one that inspires a whole new appreciation for the strength and endurance of these extraordinary creatures.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. We are Canada’s trusted source of news, information and Canadian entertainment. Deeply rooted in communities all across the country, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also provide international news and information from a uniquely Canadian perspective. In 2017, CBC/Radio-Canada will be at the heart of the celebrations and conversations with special 2017-themed multiplatform programming and events across Canada.View the press kit for photos, synopses and more information about Turtle Beach.
